I'm not sure how many of you have seen this video, circulating on Facebook and YouTube. It has over 3.2 million hits, and for good reason. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am not the most emotional person in the world, but 2 minutes into this video and I was in tears. If anyone reading this has children, this could be your child...

I'm not going to say much because I think this video says more than I ever could. MSNBC reports that 1 in 6 children are bullied, many of them on a daily basis. And that's just the children who speak up. With bullying becoming an issue for even younger children, who don't know how to process their feelings or don't know who they can turn to, more and more victims end up cutting themselves, or even committing suicide. Despite being termed "bullycide", there are no real estimates on just how many kids choose to end their own lives due to constant attacks.

I'm willing to bet that most people over the age of 18 have been bullied at least once in their lives. But I don't remember hearing about anyone cutting themselves or committing suicide over it. So what's the difference now? For one thing, media. Gone are the days when issues were only known to the bully and their victim. Now, everything that anyone says can be immediately projected to thousands, even millions of other people. It's bad enough when one person calls you a faggot or a retard. But having the entire school - and countless others outside the school - know? That brings a very different and more intense world of hurt.

There really is no answer to "why" bullying exists. It pretty much always has. Many of us may have been bullies at some point in our lives, whether we choose to admit it or not. While you all know that I'm not a fan of tact, it IS important to think twice about how our words may affect someone else. It is equally important to think about how much kind words or a hug can help.

If you are an adult, keep an eye on the children around you. Listen to what they say and pay attention. If you hear someone being a bully, or hear any mention of being bullied, don't just dismiss it as "kids will be kids". Speak up for them, be a friend. Let them know that they don't have to deal with stuff like this on their own. Tell them that, like Jonah Mowry, they're stronger than bullies and have a million reasons to be here.